Emerita Professor at Monash University, Australia
Prof. Dr. Patricia Vickers-Rich is a renowned paleontologist and geologist with over five decades of groundbreaking research. She holds a PhD in Geology from Columbia University, where her work on Australia’s non-passeriform birds and the impact of plate tectonics earned global recognition. Prof. Vickers-Rich has held various prestigious academic positions, including Curator for the DinoQuest exhibition and Co-leader of UNESCO’s IGCP 673 project. She has contributed significantly to the understanding of prehistoric life and Earth’s geological history, particularly through her research on Southern Polar Dinosaurs and the Precambrian-Phanerozoic transition. In 2024, she received the Gold Medal from the Russian Academy of Science, highlighting her global influence. Prof. Vickers-Rich continues to shape paleontology through her exhibitions, research leadership, and participation in international scientific programs.
Profile
SCOPUS
Education 🎓:
Prof. Dr. Patricia Vickers-Rich’s educational journey is a testament to her deep commitment to geology and paleontology. She earned her PhD in Geology from Columbia University, New York, in 1973, where her thesis focused on the history of Australia’s non-passeriform birds, exploring topics such as Antarctic dispersal routes, plate tectonics, and the origin of Australia’s avifauna. Prior to that, she completed her M.A. in Geology at Columbia University in 1969, with a thesis on the fossil and recent vultures of both the Old and New Worlds, examining their phylogenetic relationships. Her academic foundation began with a B.A. in Paleontology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1966. This strong educational background has played a pivotal role in her distinguished career in paleontology and geoscience research.
Work Experience đź’Ľ:
Prof. Dr. Patricia Vickers-Rich has an extensive and distinguished career spanning several decades, marked by significant contributions to paleontology and geology. She currently serves as the Curator for the DinoQuest exhibition at the Singapore Science Centre, where she has been leading the exploration of Southern Polar Dinosaurs since 2019. Prof. Vickers-Rich is also the Co-leader of UNESCO IGCP 673, a project dedicated to studying the Precambrian-Phanerozoic transition, and has held leadership roles in various international scientific organizations, including the UNESCO International Geoscience Program and the Australian International Geoscience Program. Her academic experience includes notable positions as Reader and Senior Lecturer at Monash University, and Assistant Professor and Associate Curator at Texas Tech University. Throughout her career, she has been involved in multiple prestigious exhibitions, such as the DinosaursofDarkness and The Great Russian Dinosaurs exhibitions, and has made significant contributions to global paleontological research.
Awards and Honors
Prof. Dr. Patricia Vickers-Rich has received numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout her career, recognizing her exceptional contributions to paleontology and geoscience. In 2024, she was awarded the Gold Medal by the Russian Academy of Science on the occasion of its 300th anniversary, a testament to her global influence in the field. She was also elected as a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Science in 2022 for her pioneering work in the Precambrian and her leadership in various international research projects. Additionally, Prof. Vickers-Rich has been honored with several distinguished memberships, including her election to the Swedish Research Council’s Scientific Research Evaluation Committee and the JSPSAAA (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) Alumni Association of Australia. Her work continues to be celebrated for its profound impact on both the scientific community and public education.
Research Interests:
Prof. Dr. Patricia Vickers-Rich’s research interests are deeply rooted in paleontology, geology, and the study of prehistoric life, particularly within the context of Australia’s ancient ecosystems. Her pioneering work focuses on the evolution and extinction of ancient bird species, including the study of the Dromornithidae, a family of large, extinct ground birds endemic to Australia. She is also renowned for her research on the Precambrian-Phanerozoic transition, exploring the complex interactions between plate tectonics, climate change, and the evolution of life on Earth. Prof. Vickers-Rich has also made significant contributions to the understanding of Southern Polar Dinosaurs and their role in Earth’s prehistoric biodiversity. Her work bridges the gap between geological processes and biological evolution, aiming to uncover the historical drivers of biodiversity and extinction.
đź“š Publications
- New Swartpuntia Occurrence Found Within the Aar Member
- Authors: Gibson, B.M., Stengel, I., Nghishidulu, Z., Vickers-Rich, P., Laflamme, M.
- Journal: Gondwana Research
- Volume & Pages: 138, pp. 186–191
- Year: 2025
- Citations: 0
- Indigenous Knowledge of Palaeontology in Africa
- Authors: Benoit, J., Penn-Clarke, C.R., Rust, R., Vickers-Rich, P., Helm, C.W.
- Journal: Geological Society Special Publication
- Volume & Pages: 543(1), pp. 357–370
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 2
- Fossils Document Evolutionary Changes of Jaw Joint to Mammalian Middle Ear
- Authors: Mao, F., Zhang, C., Ren, J., Vickers-Rich, P., Meng, J.
- Journal: Nature
- Volume & Pages: 628(8008), pp. 576–581
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 1
- Jurassic Shuotheriids Show Earliest Dental Diversification of Mammaliaforms
- Authors: Mao, F., Li, Z., Wang, Z., Vickers-Rich, P., Meng, J.
- Journal: Nature
- Volume & Pages: 628(8008), pp. 569–575
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 3
- A Putative Triradial Macrofossil from the Ediacaran Jiangchuan Biota
- Authors: Zhao, M., Mussini, G., Li, Y., Li, M., Chen, A.
- Journal: iScience
- Volume & Pages: 27(2), 108823
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 2
- A Megaraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) Frontal from the Upper Strzelecki Group (Lower Cretaceous) of Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Kotevski, J., Duncan, R.J., Pentland, A.H., Evans, A.R., Poropat, S.F.
- Journal: Cretaceous Research
- Volume & Pages: 154, 105769
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 1
- Polar Dinosaur Tracks of the Wonthaggi Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Victoria, Australia and Their Palaeontological Significance
- Authors: Martin, A.J., Lowery, M., Hall, M., Broomfield, J., Vickers-Rich, P.
- Journal: Alcheringa
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 0
- A Diverse Assemblage of Monotremes (Monotremata) from the Cenomanian Lightning Ridge Fauna of New South Wales, Australia
- Authors: Flannery, T.F., McCurry, M.R., Rich, T.H., Smith, E.T., Helgen, K.M.
- Journal: Alcheringa
- Volume & Pages: 48(2), pp. 319–337
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 2
- Oldest Pterosaur Remains from Australia: Evidence from the Lower Cretaceous (Lower Albian) Eumeralla Formation of Victoria
- Authors: Pentland, A.H., Vickers-Rich, P., Rich, T.H., Rigby, S.L., Poropat, S.F.
- Journal: Historical Biology
- Volume & Pages: 36(7), pp. 1188–1195
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 1
- First Monotreme from the Late Cretaceous of South America
- Authors: Chimento, N.R., AgnolĂn, F.L., Manabe, M., Vickers-Rich, P., Novas, F.E.
- Journal: Communications Biology
- Volume & Pages: 6(1), 146
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 5
ConclusionÂ
With her stellar academic qualifications, groundbreaking research, and influential leadership in both academic and public spheres, Prof. Dr. Patricia Vickers-Rich is a truly deserving candidate for the Research for Excellence in Research award. Her sustained excellence in research and dedication to advancing the field of paleontology make her an ideal representative of scientific achievement and innovation.